Note: This page was updated Sept. 30 to reflect an increase in in-person classes for grades 9-12. Skip to the Student Schedules section to see these changes.
A message from Principal Grady
I hope this outreach finds all of our families doing well as we prepare to begin a school year unlike ever before. This guide is a quick reference for the most important information that parents and guardians need for the upcoming school year. Please keep in mind that state guidelines have dictated our planning. I feel we have developed an educational model that will allow for instructional progression and fully supports Regents preparedness and graduation requirements.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, your child’s teachers or school counselors if you need any support throughout the school year.
Sincerely,
Aaron Grady
High School Principal
Start to the Year: Hybrid Learning Model & Rotating Schedule
FFCS will reopen for the 2020-21 school year using the hybrid learning model. Students will alternate between in-person learning and structured remote learning based on a rotating schedule.
The current plan reflects in-person learning for high school students during weeks one, five and 10 of the first quarter (schedule below). Any and all modifications to the calendar are related to our ability to increase in-person learning capacity and will be communicated to families as soon as possible. These schedules will be detailed on the calendar of the district’s homepage so families can easily check who is expected to report for in-person or remote learning on any given day. Please note, Life Skills and ELL students will attend school daily under hybrid/modified learning.
Related: School Supply Lists
The first day of the school year for grades 9-12 will be Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Grades 9-12
Beginning Monday, Oct. 5, high school students in the hybrid learning plan will begin a revised school schedule. Students will continue to rotate in-person and remote learning, but the number of in-person days is increased. The cycle will include one day of in-person learning followed by two days of remote learning on a repeating pattern. This schedule will continue for the remainder of the first quarter through Friday, Nov. 13. A full schedule is available below according to students’ last names.
The district is able to increase in-person school days at the high school in the ongoing review of district operations since reopening. After reviewing the average number of K-6 students on buses, there are enough seats available each day to safely include one third of the high school students. We have also found a state-approved cleaning product that disinfects all classrooms more efficiently.
GROUP 1 AGUILERA THROUGH FERRUCCI
In-Person Attendance Dates: Monday, Oct. 5, Thursday, Oct. 8, Wednesday, Oct. 14, Monday, Oct. 19, Thursday, Oct. 22, Tuesday, Oct. 27, Friday, Oct. 30, Thursday, Nov. 5, Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Note: Students will participate in remote learning on the days they are not scheduled to attend school.
GROUP 2 FIELD THROUGH MILLER
In-Person Attendance Dates: Tuesday, Oct. 6, Friday, Oct. 9, Thursday, Oct. 15, Tuesday, Oct. 20, Friday, Oct. 23, Wednesday, Oct. 28, Monday, Nov. 2, Friday, Nov. 6, Thursday, Nov. 12
Note: Students will participate in remote learning on the days they are not scheduled to attend school.
GROUP 3 MINICKI THROUGH ZUMBULO
In-Person Attendance Dates: Wednesday, Oct. 7, Tuesday, Oct. 13, Friday, Oct. 16, Wednesday, Oct. 21, Monday, Oct. 26, Thursday, Oct. 29, Wednesday, Nov. 4, Monday, Nov. 9, Friday, Nov. 13
Note: Students will participate in remote learning on the days they are not scheduled to attend school.
In-Person Learning
Only one-third of high school students will be in attendance in order for the district to adhere to state guidelines. This will allow for social distancing to occur and minimize the need for face coverings throughout the entire school day. Depending on the size of the room, maximum in-person class sizes may range between approximately 5-12 students. As the year progresses, we will continuously aim to increase in-person learning opportunities (for example, increase student capacity from one-third to one-half, if guidelines permit).
When students are on campus, they will follow the regular curriculum that is planned by their teachers. This includes, but is not limited to, participating in lessons, science labs, activities and assessments with their teachers, socializing with their classmates and receiving in-person support from district programs.
Online Learning
Beginning Monday, Sept. 14, all HS classes for students in grades 9-12 will be online. As explained in previous district communications, our intent is to provide as much structure as possible to the school day. All teaching staff and students will follow their daily period-by-period course schedules. The day will begin at 7:45 am and end at 2:29 p.m. All students are expected to login in to their homeroom by 8 a.m. for attendance. Attendance will continue to be taken period-by-period throughout the course of the day. As always, consistent attendance greatly impacts course grades.
Teachers will provide live instruction to each of their class periods throughout the day. All contacts and assignments will be coordinated and accessed through Google Classroom. Teachers will assign students activities/lessons to complete in Google Classroom. Live learning will occur with teachers as much as possible as students move remotely through their daily schedule period-by-period. There will also be other opportunities to interact live with their teachers at different times.
Students are not responsible for logging into any study halls or lunches on their schedules. They may use that time as they see fit with the expectation that they will login to their next scheduled class.
Fonda-Fultonville High School Day
- 7:45 a.m. Bus drop-off, parent drop-off and walkers are welcome. Enter through the auditorium doors. Doors will not open until 7:45 a.m.
- 8 a.m. Homeroom
- 8:05 a.m. – 2:29 p.m. Instructional Day
- 2:29 p.m. Bus dismissal, parent pick-up and walker dismissal
If you choose to drive your child to school or if they will drive or walk to school, please note that parents, student drivers and walkers will be welcome no earlier than 7:45 a.m.
Mandatory Use of Protective Personal Equipment
Parents are encouraged to send their children to school with a filled water bottle and clean face covering. Face coverings will be available at school and on the bus if needed. Students and staff will be expected to follow all safety protocols, including wearing face coverings indoors and outside when social distancing (six or twelve feet depending on the activity) is not possible or when an acceptable barrier is not in place. This pertains to traveling around the school and at all times on buses. Face coverings are strongly recommended by the NYSDOH at all times. Face coverings are required to be worn by all individuals at all times except for meals and at times determined by staff and administration when social distancing is occurring. Students who are unable to medically tolerate a face covering and provide written documentation, will not be required to wear one. Face coverings will be provided to students, if needed.
As you prepare for your child’s return to school this fall, please talk to them about the importance of wearing a face covering at school and on the bus.
Preventative measures to mitigate risk
When in-person learning is scheduled, the high school will follow a traditional bell schedule, with classes being sanitized between sessions. Additionally, enhanced cleaning routines have been developed to allow for the regular disinfection of high touch surfaces such as desks, chairs and door knobs.
Classrooms have been reconfigured to meet health and safety guidelines. Desks will be spaced 6-feet apart with desks facing the front of the classroom. This will reduce the need for students to wear face coverings during instruction. Students will not change their clothing for physical education classes, as locker rooms will be closed.
The district has reconfigured/modified space within the schools. Some areas of the school will be closed. Spaces where people gather, including entryways and hallways, will be restricted to ensure social distancing. The use of lockers and student storage areas will be restricted. Students will be encouraged to use backpacks. They should not carry an unreasonable number of books or materials throughout the day.
Foot traffic will be restricted to one-way by using tape on the floors or signs with arrows in the hallways. The district will post signage and distance markers denoting spaces of 6-feet in commonly used areas, and in areas where lines commonly form or people may congregate (libraries, classrooms, health office, main office, etc.)
Arrival Procedure
Health screenings will be conducted each morning before coming to school for all members of the school community. Faculty, staff and students will take their temperatures prior to coming to school. They must also complete an online one-question form that asks whether they have a fever. Students must have their temperature taken and their form must be completed prior to boarding the bus or arriving at school. A link for this form will be emailed each morning to make this as convenient as possible for families.
All school community members are required to wear a face covering during arrival. High school doors will not open until 7:45 a.m. daily. To avoid congregation outside of the school, please remain in your vehicle/bus until 7:45 a.m. Buses will be unloaded one at a time. At 7:45 a.m., students can enter the HS through the auditorium doors and report directly to your homeroom. Walking throughout the halls prior to homeroom is prohibited. There will be designated staff members monitoring the hallways and school entryways to ensure compliance with health and safety guidelines.
Dismissal Procedure
All students will be dismissed at 2:29 p.m. and directed to leave the building. All school community members are required to wear a face covering during dismissal. Students who are picked up by parents or drive themselves will exit the building and go directly to their vehicle. All others will go to the buses.
Parents will be asked to stay in their vehicles. If you arrive prior to the time of dismissal, remain in your vehicle until your child has boarded. Once your child has entered your vehicle, we ask that you safely exit campus, being mindful of all buses and other vehicles.
Technology
All students in grades 5-12 will have a district-provided Chromebook to be used both at home and school. Students who were identified in a survey with follow up communication will be provided with a district-provided Wifi hotspot to the extent practicable.
Remote Learning Support Center has been created to assist with tech questions that families may have. This support center can be found on the district website and contains frequently asked questions, tutorials, as well as an email address and phone number that can be used to request further assistance.
Grading & Assessments
There will no longer be a pass/fail system for grading. Grading will return to our traditional number based system at all school buildings under all learning models, and all assignments will be graded as appropriate. Grading and assessments help teachers and administrators determine student’s strengths and needs. District assessments will be implemented during the school year. Information on state testing will be shared with students and families when it is finalized by the state.
Attendance
In order for students to be successful, it is important that they attend their classes whether in-person or remote. It is a requirement under the NYSED guidance that attendance is taken daily whether in-person or remote. When participating in remote instruction, teachers will take daily attendance based on students’ online engagement and whether they log in during remote live Google Meet lessons/sessions. If a student is sick and unable to attend their remote learning classes, an excuse or doctor’s note should be sent to the school office via email or fax, just as they would during in-person learning. If a student is not logged in during these live sessions or engaging in our on-line platform they will be marked absent. During in-person learning, attendance will be taken as normal. Attendance will impact course grades.
Bus rules
- A mask must be worn at all times while riding, entering and exiting the school bus, unless prior approval by the district because of a medical condition or disability.
- No eating or drinking allowed.
- Students must remain in their assigned seat at all times.
- Members of the same household will sit together.
- Students must ride the same bus to and from school once routes have been established.
- Bus changes will not be permitted due to seating capacity limitations.
Food service procedures
- One meal choice will be provided for students who purchase their meals at school. Meals will be individually wrapped.
- Breakfast and lunch can be ordered online in the morning.
- Students will sit at desks to better ensure social distancing in the cafeteria.
- Meal accounts must be maintained throughout the week/month through MySchoolBucks.
- Meal deliveries will be available for those participating in remote learning upon registration/sign up. More information will be shared with families about this process on the school website and through email.
BOCES Career & Technical Center
Students in grades 11-12 have the option of participating in their HFM BOCES Career and Technical Education programs either remotely or in-person. Students who choose to attend in-person will be transported to HFM BOCES daily. When FFCS is on a remote learning cycle, CTE students must provide their own transportation to and from FFCS. Specifics related to CTE will be communicated directly to those families.